Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-13
INCORRIGIBLE PRISONERS.
OPINIONS AS TO THEIR TREAT
MENT.
States-What Penologists Say of
the Methods at Folsom.

On Saturday morning last large num-
Der of opinions of State Prison Wardens
were published in the RECORD UNION, con-
corning the management of incorrigible
prisoners. These expressions were in reply
to circular letter sent out by Warden Nc
Comb. Since last Saturday General Nc
Comb has received further replies, which
numbered questions to which the answers
refer may also be before the reader, the cir
cular letter is here reproduced
THE LETTER SENT TO wARDENs
l. What is your mode of punishment for pris-
oners who will not work?
2. What mode for those who assault the Off
GERS with intent to kill?
3. What is your opinion of solitary confine-
ment, not as practiced at your prison, but as
practiced here, viz: by confning in one OF the
cells in no way different from all the Others ex-
cept that some of the openings are hooded?
f. Please describe your solitary cells
8. We have a prisoner here, William Smidt,
under sentence of ten years. He escaped from
the Southern Illinois Penitentiary at Chester
has escaped from one or two other Eastern
prisons; has made six attempts to escape from
this prison attempted to assassinate the War
den of this prison has assaulted prisoners, and
threatens to kill whoever stands between him and
liberty. He generally manages to remove all
shackles and handouts as soon as placed upon
him. What would you do in such a case?
FURTHER REPLIES TO THE ABOVE.
These additional responses to the above
have been received:
G. S. Bean, Warden of the Maine State
Prison, writes; ~ Solitary, on bread and
water. ~ Referred TO the Courts. (3) No
answer. a. Two grades-open except bars,
an ont alx 6arl
Z. G. Coffin, Warden of Ohio Peniten-
tiary, writes (1) Wetake time from them,
and in extreme cases use water spray. (2l
We reduce to lowest grade, take all good
time from them, put ball and chain on
them, and prosecute in Court to the full
extent of the law. (3) Solitary confine-
ment will do in some cases, but in great
many cases | think it too mild, and has
but little effect. (D Ordinary cells, 3x74
(5) Put a ball and chain on him, day and
night. Put him in solitary confinement
till he gave up, if it took all the time. I
would advise him to keep away from the
Ohio Penitentiary.
S. e. Chamberlain, Warden of the Con-
necticut State Prison, writes Q) Solitary.
~ Trial before Superior Court. (3) A very
slight punishment. (4) Ordinary cell. (5)
Build secure iron cage, put him in, and
give him Just enough bread and water to
sustain life, with occasional foggings until
he would be subdued
Edward Robertson, Superintendent of
the West Virginia Penitentiary, writes
~ Handwriting to cell door during work
ing hours. (2) Buck and gag in dark cell
not to exceed twelve hours, followed by
confinement in cell on bread and water if
necessary (S) That it is all right and.neces-
sary. (4) We have nothing but q dark cell
of that nature. (5) would lock him in
his own cell, and keep him there during
full term if the safety of the institution re-
quired 1t. If your institution be conducted
on the same plan as ours he would be no
trouble after he was locked up.
D. W. Marmaduke, Warden of the Mis-
souri, Penitentiary, writes: a When
prisoners refuse to work we punish then,
by solitary confinement, blind cells, and, if
necessary, iogging. We use all the mild
| measurements first.
(2) If prisoners assault an officer with
intent to kill, we usually shackle him, put
him in solitary confinement on bread and
water for few days, then put him to work
| and have him indicted by the Grand Jury,
| and, if convicted. he is sentenced for an ad-
| ditional term. Our modes of punishment
| are various, and it depends altogether on
| the character of the prisoner. Out of $50
and LOO prisoners we have here, there are
| two-thirds or three-quarters who never
have to be punished all the punishment
| falling on one-quarter or one third, of an
| obstinate, perverse character.
(3) Solitary confinement. with plenty of
| food and water, is certainly very mild,
| though well calculated to arrest the atten-
| ton of man who is not especially vicious
| We always try it with new prisoners to
! give them chance, to try to teach them
| they are in a penitentiary, and must
| have no will of their own in con-
| tiict with the rules of the institution.
| 1t depends altogether on the prisoner him
self how long he remains in solitary con-
| finement. We have now a man in solitary
| confin ement who has been there over three
years. he being very dangerous charac-
ter, and manifests even now vindictiveness
| on every occasion that offers. He led one
or more revolts in this institution, which
resulted in loss by fire of very large
| amount of property, and though we try to
get him out OF solitary and pnt him to
| work he fails to secure the confidence of the
officers.
a. Our cells are not different from the
| ordinary cells. Our blind cells are as dark
| as We can make them. We have separate
building for our insane prisoners and con-
hne the dangerous ones in cells taking
them out shackled with their keepers for
exercise in the open air, when we can. We
have twelve or fifteen convicts now in
solitary confinement
(5) 1t Is difficult to answer your question
| here. / would certainly, in dealing with
the character of which you make mention,
secure him SO that the lives of the officers
and other prisoners would not be endan-
gered. feel it very high duty to protect
| the lives of the convicts committed to
my charge, who have no power
to protect themselves other than thew
get through me and nv management.
and it Is very painful to me to have one of
them hurt through any oversight or ne
glect of mine. / would infer from what
you say of the man, that isolation, as far
as possible, and, if necessary, keep a guard
at the door to prevent any communication
with him. would be as much as you could
expect OF him. Such character may not
be subdued by punishment, but he can be
SO restrained that he cannot do harm.
William J. Hicks, Warden of the North
Carolina State Penitentiary, says: Q) Soil
tary confinement on bread and water; ball
and chain; fogging. (2) Have nothing of
the kind to contend with. t3) Think it
very efficient. (4) Same as the other cells.
(5) would have heavy irons riveted on
him; isolate him, and, if necessary, place
special guard over him, to see that there
was no communication with him. / would
subdue him at any cost.
Michael J. Cassidy, Warden of the East
ern State Penitentiary at Philadelphia
Pennsylvania, writes:
~ The prisoners are treated individ-
ally-each occupying a separate cell Sxi6x
II feet, in which they remain continuously
work is furnished them which they do in
their cell. All punishments they infiict on
themselves. Upon refusal to work, which
is very seldom, all work is taken from them.
They soon get tired of that and make terms
to have it returned.
(2) Prisoners disposed to assault officers
are very few. That is matter to be de-
cided at once between the prisoner and the
officer. Our officers are trained 10 the
business and understand that the prisoner
must in all such cases get the worst of the
assault.
(3) There is no such thing as solitary con-
finement here. Separate or individual
treatment affects more injuriously. There are
cranks everywhere. The methods pursued
here have been in operation since the open
ing of the institution in 1929, and has long
ceased to be an experiment. Solitary con-
firement with you may be a punishment
but it is not likely to injure anyone. As